My brother’s imaginary friend

[fbhjr]

The preview for Where the Wild Things Are has really taken me back in a way that is very hard for me to describe.
The book, that came out the year I was born, was always my favorite when growing up. Like Max in the book, I also had a wolf costume (black, not white like Max's) and would often wear it around the house.


This picture, taken 37 years ago, was when I was being my brother’s imaginary friend.
As has been true with so many folks, my bother had trouble dealing with me. And, it was easier for him to think of me as someone else then his brother. So, I was a “monster” he knew. (A monster from the Godzilla mythos, not a Wild Thing, as Godzilla Vs. The Smog Monster had just been out in the theaters. And, the creature double feature on channel 56 had Godzilla movies on almost every weekend.)

We got along better that way then we ever did as brothers. But, it really, really upset my mother. She hated me being my brother’s imaginary friend and went to great lengths to stop it. But, punishments really can’t do much to stop someone from pretending.
Eventually, she switched to bribery and that summer we got the dog my brother and I both wanted very much, and we stopped pretending.

It’s strange to watch the preview of the movie. I remember being one of the monsters. Existing as a monster because of the belief of my little brother.
It’s a very strange feeling.